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It all started with a rather sensible idea: restore a 1978 Bristol Double Decker English Bus and turn it into a mobile coffee shop. OK, maybe sensible isn't the word, but when you're dealing with the Big Dawg himself, you know that there will be plenty of great coffee to power you through any obstacle!
Below are pictures and the story of the bus's transformation. Remember, if you want to see the bus in person, we are at the Sarasota Farmer's Market every Saturday morning and you can always check our Bus Schedule page for other events.
The Story of the
Double Decker Coffee Shop Bus
The first obstacle in creating a double decker coffee shop bus, is finding a double decker bus, Chris Keesecker, a.k.a. "Big Dawg", scoured the world for the perfect bus and eventually found what he was looking for: a 1978 Bristol. Which led to another obstacle - getting the bus to Sarasota for the rebuild.
The next step was to asess the bus's integrity and come up with a game plan for the restoration. This step was directed by Steve Griffith and involved not only in the mechanics, electrical, and structural aspects of the bus, but also on how to install a full bore mobile coffee shop capable of brewing massive amounts of coffee and espresso, not to mention offer smoothies, drinks, and pastries.
"Hey Steve! I think the problem is somewhere in here!"
The back interior of the bus interior prior to restoration
Below is the same view in mid-restoration. Cabinets and counters have been installed and soon the electrical, lighting, and finally the coffee shop appliances will be installed.
Painting a huge double decker bus is a major undertaking . The entire crew was "java Dawg Red" for days afterward.
Close to the end of the Coffee Bus restoration, our good friends the Hilstrands from Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch" came by to check out the progress of the bus and pick up some coffee for crab season. If you are a "Time Bandit" fan, you will be excited to know that the special blend we brew for the crew will soon be available to you! Visit our Specialty Coffee Page for more details.
The Double Decker Coffee Shop Bus had it's maiden voyage in August of 2009 on a rainy Saturday at the Sarasota Farmer's Market. The pictures below and at right were taken very early before the crowds so that we could actually get a picture of the bus. Once the word got out, everyone came down to wish Java Dawg Coffee luck in it's new venture and quite a few local writers and reporters also showed up. You can read some of their stories on our "Press Room".
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